Ultramagic N425 accident near Clermont, Florida, April 16, 2012
On April 16, 2012 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Ultramagic N425 (balloon), registered N990BR, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clermont, Florida. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon passenger's failure to maintain her grip during landing, which resulted in a fall and injury to another passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2012 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clermont, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic N425 NO SERIES
- Registration
- N990BR · registry record · serial N425-52
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the completion of a balloon flight, the balloon touched down while moving at 4 mph and bounced. An adult passenger did not maintain her grip on the hand-holds and fell into another passenger, breaking that passenger’s wrist. According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility before being bused to the launch site, where a more detailed briefing was provided by the balloon’s pilot. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and the proper stance at touchdown.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Cabin safety event during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Balloon/dirigible structures › (general) › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,550 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 8,183 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Orlando FL
- Destination: Clermont FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.